Tennis score computer

ABSTRACT

A tennis scoring portable computer manually operated by the person holding the computer, the computer including three sets of paired wheels, the handle portion of each wheel being exposed for manual manipulation such that the wheel is rotatable manually, and an indicia carrying portion of each wheel being exposable through a window for each wheel disclosing tennis-scoring indicia, the particular indicia being viewable through the window being dependent upon the position to which the wheel is turned by manual adjustment of the handle portion, one set of wheels being paired separate wheels for indicating the respective scores of opposing players for the points of a single game, the several points listed on each wheel of the points set being love, 15, 30, 40, deuce, add, and game, a second set of paired wheels one for each of opposing players includes separate positions on each wheel for scores ranging from the number one through the number seven, and the third set of wheels each having numbers corresponding to sets for each of three different positions numbered one, two, and three, the face of the computer between opposing ones of each pair identifying each of the three sets of pairs as points, games, and sets, and a first column of one of each set being identified as one tennis player and a second column of the remaining one of each pair of the three sets being identified as the other tennis player.

United States Patent 1191 Izzo [ TENNIS SCORE COMPUTER [76] Inventor:Charles P. 1:20, 72 Main Street,

Ridgefield, Conn. 06877 [22] Filed: Aug. 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:284,587

[52] US. Cl. ..l16/l20, 40/70, 116/133,

235/1 14 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 71/06 [58] Field of Search ..116/114, 120,130, 116/131, 133; 273/29; 40/70; 235/114 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,114,945 10/1914 Variel, Jr ..235/1 14 1,985,652 12/1934Campbell ..1 16/133 X 3,122,851 3/1964 Sepe ..40/7O FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 463,648 4/1937 Great Britain ..l l6/2O PrimaryExaminer-Louis .l. Capozi Attorney-William T. Hough et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A tennis scoring portable computer manually operated 113,73Q13fi [451 May 1, 1973 by the person holding the computer, thecomputer including three sets of paired wheels, the handle portion ofeach wheel being exposed for manual manipulation such that the wheel isrotatable manually, and an indicia carrying portion of each wheel beingexposable' through a window for each wheel disclosing tennisscoringindicia, the particular indicia being viewable through the window beingdependent upon the position to which the wheel is turned by manualadjustment of the handle portion, one set of wheels being pairedseparate wheels for indicating the respective scores of opposing playersfor the points of a single game, the several points listed on each wheelof the points set being love, 15, 30, 40, deuce, add, and game, a secondset of paired wheels one for each of opposing players includes separatepositions on each wheel for scores ranging from the number one throughthe number seven, and the third set of wheels each having numberscorresponding to sets for each of three different positions numberedone, two, and three, the face of the computer between opposing ones ofeach pair identifying each of the three sets of pairs as points, games,and sets, and a first column of one of each set being identified as onetennis player and a second column of the remaining one of each pair ofthe three sets being identified as the other tennis player.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures TENNIS SCORE COMPUTER This invention relatesto a portable tennis-scoring computer.

BACKGROUND Prior to the present invention, there have not been inexistence any tennis scoring devices of a portable nature to the bestknowledge of the inventor, although tennis has existed for many yearsand has within recent years acquired an even wider popularity among bothyouths and adults as a form of recreation both as a participating sportand a spectator sport. For the spectator, non-professional as well asprofessional, it is handy and convenient to be able to watch and enjoythe physical and mental gymnastic feats of the game without having toencumber the mind with details of the outstanding present score withregard to points of the present game being played, as well as the scorein terms of games, as well as the score in terms of sets, which even tothe trailed professional tennis mind sometimes is confusing or easilyforgotten in the heat and stresses of competition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present inventionto overcome one or more of the above-type difficulties and needs.

Another object is to obtain a portable tennis-score computer easilyunderstandable an operatable by a person familiar with tennis scoring.

Another object is to obtain a portable tennis-scoring computer easilyheld within the palm of one hand.

Another object is to obtain a tennis-scoring computer of simple andinexpensive construction.

Another object is to obtain a tennis-scoring computer of attractiveappearance.

Another object is to obtain a tennis-scoring computer typically of adisk-type shape easily insertable into and carried in the pocket.

Another object of the present invention is to obtain a tennis-scoringcomputer suggestive in appearance of a tennis ball. 7

Other objects become apparent from the preceding and followingdisclosure.

One or more of the preceding objects are obtained by the invention asdefined herein.

The invention broadly includes three pairs of rotary wheels, the firstof each pair forming a first column representative of one tennis playerand the second of each pair forming a second column representative of asecond tennis player. A first set of wheels is indicative of the pointsscored in a particular game, such as love, I5, 30, 40, deuce, add, andgames-indicating indicia, whereas for the second pair of wheels, thescores thereon are indicative of a first game, a second game, a thirdgame, a fourth game, a fifth game, a sixth game, and a seventh game. Thethird pair of wheels is indicative ofthe number of sets which may beplayed, ranging from one to three in the numbers indicative of sets. Ina face of an enclosure are windows corresponding to each of the sixwheels such that by manually maneuvering the handle portion of eachwheel, the particular tennis-scoring indicia for a particular wheel maybe turned up as the next occurring score when a player makes that score.

It is to be understood of course that for example there may be somevariations in the indicia carried on the respective wheels. For exampleon the points wheel for each of the players, there may be absent ifdesired the position indicating game, since whenever a player exceedsthe score of add, the score keeper manipulating the portable computermerely pushes the game handle portion wheel to increase the number ofgames by one for that particular winning player. Similarly, the deuceposition may be omitted such that the score keeper merely uses the 40position in shifting back and forth between add and deuce scores. Inlike manner other modifications may be made such as for exampleutilizing the number 5 in the place of 15, or other equivalentmodifications. Similarly, although for the games paired wheels therehave been above indicated games ranging from one through seven, it ispossible that the games may range to a lower or higher number.

as might be desired, although seven games are based on the currentprofessional scoring practices. Similarly the set of wheels eachindicating the number of sets won may range to higher numbers than threealthough three is the accepted professional scoring number since thefirst person to win three out of five wins the series of sets. Althoughit is not essential that there be springcatch devices ortheirequivalents to anchor a wheel to a particular position, avoiding atleast to some extent the possibility of accidentally moving the handleportion to disclose an erroneous game-scoring indicia, some embodimentsof the present invention include such spring elements. However, from thestandpoint of simplicity of construction and low cost, such a springretaining device may be considered as a preferred accessory notnecessarily desirable for a mass-produced portable computer. Each of thewheels is rotatably mounted on an axis therefor.

The invention may be better understood by reference to the followingfigures.

THE FIGURES FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective side view of a typicaltennis-scoring computer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a view taken along *lines 2-2 of DETAILED DESCRIPTIONOF THE INVENTION The invention may be better understood by reference tothe particular embodiments illustrated in the Figures as follow.

FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective side viewa computer 5a having an upperplanar face with windows such as and7aa through which indicia-carryingwheel portions and 911a and l0aa and the like may be viewed as the wheelis maneuvered by the handle portion 8a, 9a, 10a, 12a, and the like. Theside 1181 includes ports through which the respective handle portions8a, 9a, 10a, 12a, and the like extend in an exposed manner such that thehandle portions may be maneuvered to turn the respective wheel to aparticular indicia-viewing position viewable through the window for thatparticular wheel. On the edge of each of the handle portions areindentations such as 12a, 12aa', and the like into which a spring withinthe casing is snappable as the wheel 12a is maneuvered to differentpositions thereby at least temporarily partially securing the wheel in aparticular position for disclosing a particular predeterminedscoring-indicia, the spring in the inner enclosure locking in one of theindentations such as 120' of a particular wheel to thereby reduce thepossibiliyt of accidental moving of the wheel to an erroneous position.

The FIG. 2 illustrates a typical view along lines 22 of FIG. 1, exceptthat the respective wheels are shown in different positions than that ofFIG. 1. Viewing the inner workings of the computer of an embodiment suchas that of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 discloses the back inner wall 16a, thecorresponding wall 11a, the indicia-carrying portion 80a, the handleportion 8a, shown in dotted outline, the window 7a location, theindentation 8a,

' the flexible spring-locking arm 13 of the spring structure l4 firmlyand securely anchored to a predetermined position by set screw 15. Otherpositions are seen as labeled to correspond to the labeled items of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which instead of thewheels rotating as being laid on their sides with the indicia on theside face of the wheels as in FIGS. 1 and 2, the FIG. 3 embodimentdiscloses wheels rotating around an axis about parallel to the face 6b,with the handle portion 9b, 9b, and the like extending through the face6b and the port therefor being at least in this embodiment continuouswith the windows 7b and 7bb for example. This embodiment is furtherunderstood by reference to the FIG. 4 as taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3showing a cross section of the casing at a point at which the gamesscoring indicia and handle portions are viewable. Each of the handleportions 9b and 9b extend above the surface of the face 6b and theindicia-carrying portions 9bb and 9bb rotate within the windows. Inorder to prevent accidental rotation of one wheel of a pair by virtue ofthe axle 17b and 17b rotating with the turning of the handle portion 9b,(in such embodiments where 17b and 17b are a single continuousaxle-axis, there preferably is a key on the axle-axis engageable withina locking indentation within a support structure 18, whereby the axes17b and 17b do not turn. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the handleportion and indicia carrying portion 9b and 9bb respectively are unifiedand rotate freely around stationary axis 17b. Similarly unitary handleportion 9b and indicia-carrying portion 9bb rotate around stationaryaxis 17b. However, it might be noted that in an alternative embodimentthe wheels may be fixedly attached to the axis where a separate axis isutilized for each wheel thereby being permissible for the axis to rotatewith the wheel.

It should be noted that it is within the scope of the invention toinclude gears and/or belts of predetermined ratios such that when thegame points equals a game, the game-scoring wheel automatically turns toa higher number, preferably it being solely the final turning of thepoint wheel from add to game" or from add to love that causes the gamewheel to register.

Similarly an identical mechanism could cause the set wheel to register,by aplpropriate modifications.

It is within the scope of e present invention to utilize obviousequivalents and variations as would be apparent to a person of ordinaryskill.

I claim:

1. A portable tennis scoring device comprising in combination: anenclosure having at least one substantially planar face having definedtherein three pairs of windows with each pair spaced from the other twopairs and with each window of each pair spaced from the other of thatparticular pair, six separately rotatable wheels mounted for independentrotation such that a handle portion of each wheel extends through a portand is accessible for turning the wheel, and such that another portionof the wheel carrying tennisscoring indicia turns beneath a window foreach respective wheel, said six wheels being divided into three pairscorresponding to the three pairs of windows, each wheel of a first paircarrying identical point-scoring indicia, each wheel of a second pair ofwheels carrying identical game-scoring indicia, and each wheel of athird pair of wheels carrying sets-scoring indicia.

2. A portable tennis scoring device of claim 1, additionally includingcatch means for offering stability to the particular indicia to whicheach wheel is presently turned such that the possibility of accidentallymoving the wheel is reduced.

3. A portable tennis scoring device of claim 2, in which said structureis coin-like in shape having said windows in an upper face and having aplurality of said ports around a periphery of said structure, saidtennisscoring indicia being on a side face of each wheel.

4. A portable tennis scoring device of claim 1, in which for each wheelsaid handle portion extends through its respective said port in saidface, and in which each said wheel includes a rounded indicia carrying'surface rotatable around a central axis of said wheel.

5. A portable tennis scoring device of claim 4, in

which said enclosing structure includes a flat face and an angularhemispherically shaped base such that said enclosing structure resembleshalf of a tennis ball having a score-keeping face. 1

6. A portable tennis scoring device of claim 1, in which each wheel ofpoints-scoring indicia includes separate positions in sequence for eachof love, 15, 30, 40, deuce, add, game, and in which each games-scoringindicia carries separate positions for each of one, two, three, four,five, six, and seven, and in which each setsscoring indicia for eachwheel thereof carries separate positions for one, two, and three.

7. A portable tennis scoring device of claim 1, in which a left columnof one of each pair is identified on said face for a first player and inwhich a right column of one of each pair is identified on said face as asecond other player.

1. A portable tennis scoring device comprising in combination: anenclosure having at least one substantially planar face having definedtherein three pairs of windows with each pair spaced from the other twopairs and with each window of each pair spaced from the other of thatparticular pair, six separately rotatable wheels mounted for independentrotation such that a handle portion of each wheel extends through a portand is accessible for turning the wheel, and such that another portionof the wheel carrying tennis-scoring indicia turns beneath a window foreach respective wheel, said six wheels being divided into three pairscorresponding to the three pairs of windows, each wheel of a first paircarrying identical point-scoring indicia, each wheel of a second pair ofwheels carrying identical game-scoring indicia, and each wheel of athird pair of wheels carrying setsscoring indicia.
 2. A portable tennisscoring device of claim 1, additionally including catch means foroffering stability to the particular indicia to which each wheel ispresently turned such that the possibility of accidentally moving thewheel is reduced.
 3. A portable tennis scoring device of claim 2, inwhich said structure is coin-like in shape having said windows in anupper face and having a plurality of said ports around a periphery ofsaid structure, said tennis-scoring indicia being on a side face of eachwheel.
 4. A portable tennis scoring device of claim 1, in which for eachwheel said handle portion extends through its respective said port insaid face, and in which each said wheel includes a rounded indiciacarrying surface rotatable around a central axis of said wheel.
 5. Aportable tennis scoring device of claim 4, in which said enclosingstructure includes a flat face and an angular hemispherically shapedbase such that said enclosing structure resembles half of a tennis ballhaving a score-keeping face.
 6. A portable tennis scoring device ofclaim 1, in which each wheel of points-scoring indicia includes separatepositions in sequence for each of love, 15, 30, 40, deuce, add, game,and in which each games-scoring indicia carries separate positions foreach of one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven, and in which eachsets-scoring indicia for each wheel thereof carries separate positionsfor one, two, and three.
 7. A portable tennis scoring device of claim 1,in which a left column of one of each pair is identified on said facefor a first player and in which a right column of one of each pair isidentified on said face as a second other player.